Are the Cubs painting themesleves into a (RF) corner?

[ottawacubbie]

Today reported in the always unbiased Trib:

 

With the trade of Craig Monroe to Minnesota on Tuesday for a player to be named, the Cubs have shed three veteran outfielders who would have cost nearly $15 million if they had returned in 2008.

 

Now general manager Jim Hendry is searching for a right fielder who can hit, field and keep baserunners from taking the extra base, a sore spot in right and center the last two seasons. Hendry's payroll is likely to be raised from $100 million to $120 million-$125 million, which should give him plenty of leeway to find the caliber of player he's seeking.

 

So that means Fukudome. If we don't get him then what? The BEST, BEST option (outside of a trade) may be a Murton/Jenkins platoon. Personally I don't like platoons, but I don't see any other viable options out there. I like Guillen, but I am tired of RHs I'd rather Murton to get a shot personally.

 

Am I missing something here?

 

Maybe the 15 million is for ARod at SS. I doubt it but what else can it be for? With an infield like that + Soriano all you really need is a defensive C, LF, CF and DeRosa and you have a solid team. Any other offense is just gravy, but I know ARod will end up elsewhere and I am personally fine with that. My question is; are the Cubs painting themesleves into a (RF) corner or does Hendry have a plan that I am just not seeing?

[Peoriaman]

There are no guarantees in baseball. You have to take chances.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

 

Maybe the 15 million is for ARod at SS?

 

Better take that 15 and double it.

[BigbadB]

Today reported in the always unbiased Trib:

 

With the trade of Craig Monroe to Minnesota on Tuesday for a player to be named, the Cubs have shed three veteran outfielders who would have cost nearly $15 million if they had returned in 2008.

 

Now general manager Jim Hendry is searching for a right fielder who can hit, field and keep baserunners from taking the extra base, a sore spot in right and center the last two seasons. Hendry's payroll is likely to be raised from $100 million to $120 million-$125 million, which should give him plenty of leeway to find the caliber of player he's seeking.

 

So that means Fukudome. If we don't get him then what? The BEST, BEST option (outside of a trade) may be a Murton/Jenkins platoon. Personally I don't like platoons, but I don't see any other viable options out there. I like Guillen, but I am tired of RHs I'd rather Murton to get a shot personally.

 

Am I missing something here?

 

Maybe the 15 million is for ARod at SS. I doubt it but what else can it be for? With an infield like that + Soriano all you really need is a defensive C, LF, CF and DeRosa and you have a solid team. Any other offense is just gravy, but I know ARod will end up elsewhere and I am personally fine with that. My question is; are the Cubs painting themesleves into a (RF) corner or does Hendry have a plan that I am just not seeing?

 

He didn't just paint himself into a corner, they nailed him to the corner and put the refrigerator on top of him.

[MSG T]

 

Maybe the 15 million is for ARod at SS?

 

Better take that 15 and double it.

 

I think the writer was refering to the $15 mil increase, adding it to the 15 mil saved from Jones, Floyd and Monroe and saying that's for ARod.

[Soul]

We've shed some players who probably would have sucked next year anyway. Isn't that kind of the objective? Well, the first part of it anyway.

[nilodnayr]

We'd still have to go north of $125 for ARod. It'd be money well spent though.

 

Also, the title of this thread reminds me of a Carrie Bradshaw Sex and the City type line.

[JeffH]

Also, the title of this thread reminds me of a Carrie Bradshaw Sex and the City type line.

 

"...which makes one wonder - Is Kaz Matsui the new syphillis?"

[swordsman]

We'd still have to go north of $125 for ARod. It'd be money well spent though.

 

Also, the title of this thread reminds me of a Carrie Bradshaw Sex and the City type line.

 

WARNING: References to Sex in the City (especially ones that mention the first and last name of the main character) can get your Sports Enthusiast Club Membership revoked unless you can provide verifiable proof that you are, indeed, a woman. This is a warning.

 

[/sexist joke]

[rawaction]

Hendry get stuck going after a less than spectacular player, despite having money to send? Say it ain't so! Burnitz, Jones, Kendall.

[abuck1220]

it's kind of a winter tradition, so you'd hate to see it end.

[jersey cubs fan]

Going into the offseason, the positions most in need of improvement were SS, CF, C and RF. RF improvement was needed the least, as they weren't that bad there last year, and their in house option was the best of the 4 positions.

 

SS was the worst, considering their in house option stinks. CF was close, but given the fact that their best young player, Pie, is there, and that they had Jones as a fallback, it was relatively stable. C was horrible last year, but Soto, even if he comes nowhere near his 2007 numbers (which I assume will be the case) would most certainly provide enough production for the position to be fine.

 

The only way to get better by focusing on RF is by actually getting a great RF, or getting a very good RF and then trading Murton & others for an improvement at SS.

 

You could say they've painted themselves into a corner, but there's still a chance to come out with a masterpiece.

[TruffleShuffle]

Going into the offseason, the positions most in need of improvement were SS, CF, C and RF. RF improvement was needed the least, as they weren't that bad there last year, and their in house option was the best of the 4 positions.

 

SS was the worst, considering their in house option stinks. CF was close, but given the fact that their best young player, Pie, is there, and that they had Jones as a fallback, it was relatively stable. C was horrible last year, but Soto, even if he comes nowhere near his 2007 numbers (which I assume will be the case) would most certainly provide enough production for the position to be fine.

 

The only way to get better by focusing on RF is by actually getting a great RF, or getting a very good RF and then trading Murton & others for an improvement at SS.

 

You could say they've painted themselves into a corner, but there's still a chance to come out with a masterpiece.

 

unfortunately our gm is not exactly picasso... more like a fingerpainting kindergartener

[CuseCubFan69]

Going into the offseason, the positions most in need of improvement were SS, CF, C and RF. RF improvement was needed the least, as they weren't that bad there last year, and their in house option was the best of the 4 positions.

 

SS was the worst, considering their in house option stinks. CF was close, but given the fact that their best young player, Pie, is there, and that they had Jones as a fallback, it was relatively stable. C was horrible last year, but Soto, even if he comes nowhere near his 2007 numbers (which I assume will be the case) would most certainly provide enough production for the position to be fine.

 

The only way to get better by focusing on RF is by actually getting a great RF, or getting a very good RF and then trading Murton & others for an improvement at SS.

 

You could say they've painted themselves into a corner, but there's still a chance to come out with a masterpiece.

 

Yep and if Hendry screws this off season up with all the very good choices he has available he HAS to be fired immediately. He could screw up and still have things fall into place but it would take a real pro to muff this up.

[JeffH]

Yep and if Hendry screws this off season up with all the very good choices he has available he HAS to be fired immediately. He could screw up and still have things fall into place but it would take a real pro to muff this up.

 

Very few are as good at assembling bad baseball teams as ol' Punch Drunk.

[rawaction]

Going into the offseason, the positions most in need of improvement were SS, CF, C and RF. RF improvement was needed the least, as they weren't that bad there last year, and their in house option was the best of the 4 positions.

 

SS was the worst, considering their in house option stinks. CF was close, but given the fact that their best young player, Pie, is there, and that they had Jones as a fallback, it was relatively stable. C was horrible last year, but Soto, even if he comes nowhere near his 2007 numbers (which I assume will be the case) would most certainly provide enough production for the position to be fine.

 

The only way to get better by focusing on RF is by actually getting a great RF, or getting a very good RF and then trading Murton & others for an improvement at SS.

 

You could say they've painted themselves into a corner, but there's still a chance to come out with a masterpiece.

 

A great Rf (or OF in general regardless of position) is easier to come by than a great SS, though. There's really no reason a team with a $100M payroll should end up with Burnitz/ Jones/ Hollandsworth, etc in their OF.

 

And the RF numbers, weren't horrible. But they were middle of the pack, and boosted by players like Ward and Pagan having astronomical numbers in RF. Even Floyd was better in RF than he was in all other situations by a long shot (LF, PH, DH).

[nilodnayr]

Going into the offseason, the positions most in need of improvement were SS, CF, C and RF. RF improvement was needed the least, as they weren't that bad there last year, and their in house option was the best of the 4 positions.

 

SS was the worst, considering their in house option stinks. CF was close, but given the fact that their best young player, Pie, is there, and that they had Jones as a fallback, it was relatively stable. C was horrible last year, but Soto, even if he comes nowhere near his 2007 numbers (which I assume will be the case) would most certainly provide enough production for the position to be fine.

 

The only way to get better by focusing on RF is by actually getting a great RF, or getting a very good RF and then trading Murton & others for an improvement at SS.

 

You could say they've painted themselves into a corner, but there's still a chance to come out with a masterpiece.

 

A great Rf (or OF in general regardless of position) is easier to come by than a great SS, though. There's really no reason a team with a $100M payroll should end up with Burnitz/ Jones/ Hollandsworth, etc in their OF.

 

And the RF numbers, weren't horrible. But they were middle of the pack, and boosted by players like Ward and Pagan having astronomical numbers in RF. Even Floyd was better in RF than he was in all other situations by a long shot (LF, PH, DH).

I think the point was that we didn't need a great SS, we could get the same marginal additional production by acquiring a decent SS as by acquiring a really good RF.

[swordsman]

Going into the offseason, the positions most in need of improvement were SS, CF, C and RF. RF improvement was needed the least, as they weren't that bad there last year, and their in house option was the best of the 4 positions.

 

SS was the worst, considering their in house option stinks. CF was close, but given the fact that their best young player, Pie, is there, and that they had Jones as a fallback, it was relatively stable. C was horrible last year, but Soto, even if he comes nowhere near his 2007 numbers (which I assume will be the case) would most certainly provide enough production for the position to be fine.

 

The only way to get better by focusing on RF is by actually getting a great RF, or getting a very good RF and then trading Murton & others for an improvement at SS.

 

You could say they've painted themselves into a corner, but there's still a chance to come out with a masterpiece.

 

Yep and if Hendry screws this off season up with all the very good choices he has available he HAS to be fired immediately. He could screw up and still have things fall into place but it would take a real pro to muff this up.

 

Please define. (I'm not disagreeing, just interested in what you think are obvious, available and easily attainable "very good choices".)

[jersey cubs fan]

Going into the offseason, the positions most in need of improvement were SS, CF, C and RF. RF improvement was needed the least, as they weren't that bad there last year, and their in house option was the best of the 4 positions..

 

A great Rf (or OF in general regardless of position) is easier to come by than a great SS, though. There's really no reason a team with a $100M payroll should end up with Burnitz/ Jones/ Hollandsworth, etc in their OF.

 

And the RF numbers, weren't horrible. But they were middle of the pack, and boosted by players like Ward and Pagan having astronomical numbers in RF. Even Floyd was better in RF than he was in all other situations by a long shot (LF, PH, DH).

I think the point was that we didn't need a great SS, we could get the same marginal additional production by acquiring a decent SS as by acquiring a really good RF.

 

Yes, they probably could have gotten better improvement by just getting a decent SS, to replace the pathetic one. RF was middle of the pack, but it was the leader of the middle of the pack. And I find it hard to believe that some combination of Murton, Jones, DeRosa would struggle to match the 794 OPS next year. Murton playing 150 games would probably beat that number. The second best RF OPS in the NL was just 843 last year. They were 235 OPS points from moving up to 2nd at SS. There was much, much, much more room for improvement at SS.

 

Choosing to focus your attention on RF is choosing to take the hardest road to improvement. In the end, you can end up with a great lineup, if done correctly. But it's just another example of Hendry's lack of efficiency. He's probably going to end up spending a lot of money and talent to wind up with minimal improvement at RF.

[MPrior]

Going into the offseason, the positions most in need of improvement were SS, CF, C and RF. RF improvement was needed the least, as they weren't that bad there last year, and their in house option was the best of the 4 positions..

 

A great Rf (or OF in general regardless of position) is easier to come by than a great SS, though. There's really no reason a team with a $100M payroll should end up with Burnitz/ Jones/ Hollandsworth, etc in their OF.

 

And the RF numbers, weren't horrible. But they were middle of the pack, and boosted by players like Ward and Pagan having astronomical numbers in RF. Even Floyd was better in RF than he was in all other situations by a long shot (LF, PH, DH).

I think the point was that we didn't need a great SS, we could get the same marginal additional production by acquiring a decent SS as by acquiring a really good RF.

 

Yes, they probably could have gotten better improvement by just getting a decent SS, to replace the pathetic one. RF was middle of the pack, but it was the leader of the middle of the pack. And I find it hard to believe that some combination of Murton, Jones, DeRosa would struggle to match the 794 OPS next year. Murton playing 150 games would probably beat that number. The second best RF OPS in the NL was just 843 last year. They were 235 OPS points from moving up to 2nd at SS. There was much, much, much more room for improvement at SS.

 

Choosing to focus your attention on RF is choosing to take the hardest road to improvement. In the end, you can end up with a great lineup, if done correctly. But it's just another example of Hendry's lack of efficiency. He's probably going to end up spending a lot of money and talent to wind up with minimal improvement at RF.

 

What's infuriating is that this is so obvious. And yet, Hendry and co. have committed themselves to doing EXACTLY the opposite. It's like they penciled Theriot as the starting shortstop without a second thought, and instead are choosing to spend time, energy, money, and/or prospects on a marginal improvement in RF.

[nilodnayr]

I sure hope this is under Jim's Christmas Tree this year

[JeffH]

I sure hope this is under Jim's Christmas Tree this year

 

A pink slip would be better.

[nilodnayr]

I sure hope this is under Jim's Christmas Tree this year

 

A pink slip would be better.

 

Scrooge!!!

[BigbadB]

Everything said so far is right on target. And you would think that the 100th year of futility would spark some interest in stopping the trend.

 

How does one respond to 99 years of futility? Nah, we have no intention of pursuing the best player in baseball. We have our sites set on Omar Infante. :roll:

[CubinNY]

Everything said so far is right on target. And you would think that the 100th year of futility would spark some interest in stopping the trend.

 

How does one respond to 99 years of futility? Nah, we have no intention of pursuing the best player in baseball. We have our sites set on Omar Infante. :roll:

Tripple B, the Cubs didn't get to be this bad by accident or chance.

 

"I think we can compete within the division."